SD Project Statement

The Brooklyn Fire Station for Greenpoint neighborhood is located on a site that is surrounded by jarringly different conditions. Positioned along the Bushwick Inlet Park, water lays to the South and West with the beautiful Manhattan skyline in the distance, while the North and East are surrounded by the remnants of industrial Brooklyn. The fire station design aims to maintain connections with the community, but also take advantage of the panoramic views to the west. This is accomplished by placing the public areas of the apparatus bay and station on the first floor with views out to Brooklyn and the community, while the private residential spaces of the firefighters are placed on the second floor, out of the public eye with views that look out across the East River. The circulation of the space is extremely important, as response time is key in emergency situations like fire and rescue. The circulation of the space is maintained by the positioning of several staircases throughout the project, to increase efficiency within the space and decrease response time. The fire station sits directly off Franklin Street with a very orthogonal base, but features a complex roof-scaping and residential area for the firefighters above, only hinted at by a complex column grid seen in the apparatus bay.  By placing the Monitor Museum off of Quay Street, a courtyard is formed between the two buildings for the community’s use that leads into the greater Bushwick Inlet Park. The design facilitates the connection and interaction with the community, while also creating a comfortable environment for those serving the community.

 

Photo by Paul Warchol

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